New King James Version

International Standard Version

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.

2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

2For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.

3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort.

4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

4The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.

5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

5Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.

6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

6Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching?

7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

7In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there's no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played?

8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

9In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air!

10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

11If I don't know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

15What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind.

16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you're saying?

17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

17It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person.

18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

18I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you.

19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults.

21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

21In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord.

22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

22Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

23Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they?

24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

24But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that's happening.

25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

25His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is truly among you!"

26How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

26What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

27If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.

28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said.

30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent.

31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged.

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

34the women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says.

35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

35If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church.

36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

38But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored.

39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.